Belle Brocante
Duchess Marie Frederike Amalie of Oldenburg Queen of Greece
Stieler Joseph Karl
Amalia of Oldenburg (born 21 December 1818 in Oldenburg, died 20 May 1875 in Bamberg) was the consort of King Otto of Greece (1815-1867). Born the daughter of Paul Friedrich August, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Princess Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, she married King Otto on 22 November 1836, in Oldenburg.
Fashion influence
When she arrived in Greece as a Queen consort in 1837 she had an immediate impact on social life and fashion. She realized that her attire ought to emulate that of her new people, and so she created a romantic folksy court dress, which became a national Greek costume still known as the Amalia dress.
It follows the Biedermeier style, with a kaftan (καβαδι) top over which is worn a richly embroidered jacket. It was completed with a cap or fez, traditionally worn by married women, or with the kalpaki (a toque) of the unmarried woman, to which was added the black veil for going to church.
This dress became the usual attire of all Christian townswomen in both Ottoman Empire-occupied and liberated Balkan lands as far north as Belgrade.
In the early years of the new monarchy, Queen Amalia, with her beauty and vivaciousness brought a spirit of smart fashion and progress to the impoverished country. She laboured actively towards social improvement and the creation of gardens in Athens, and at first won the hearts of the Greeks with her refreshing beauty. The city of Amalias and the village of Amaliapolis were named for the Queen.
As King Otto and his Bavarian advisers became more enmeshed in political struggles with Greek political forces, the Queen became more politically involved, also. She became the target of harsh attacks when she became involved in politics - and her image suffered further as she proved unable to provide an heir. She also remained a Protestant, in an almost universally Orthodox country, throughout her husband's reign.
n February, 1861, a University student named Aristeidis Dosios unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate the Queen. He was sentenced to death, but the Queen intervened, and he was pardoned and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was hailed as a hero for his attempt by certain factions, but the attempt also provoked spontaneous feelings of sympathy towards the royal couple among the people. Just over a year later, while the royal couple were on a visit to the Peloponnese, an uprising in Athens took place. The Great Powers, who had supported Otto urged them not resist and Otto's reign was at an end. They left Greece aboard a British warship, with the Greek royal regalia that they had brought with them.
King Otto and Queen Amalia spent the rest of their years in exile, home in Bavaria. They decided to speak in Greek each day between 6 and 8 o'clock to remember their time in Greece.[citation needed]
Queen Amalia died in Bamberg in 1875 and was buried in Munich beside the King.
Duchess Marie Frederike Amalie of Oldenburg Queen of Greece
Stieler Joseph Karl
Amalia of Oldenburg (born 21 December 1818 in Oldenburg, died 20 May 1875 in Bamberg) was the consort of King Otto of Greece (1815-1867). Born the daughter of Paul Friedrich August, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Princess Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, she married King Otto on 22 November 1836, in Oldenburg.
Fashion influence
When she arrived in Greece as a Queen consort in 1837 she had an immediate impact on social life and fashion. She realized that her attire ought to emulate that of her new people, and so she created a romantic folksy court dress, which became a national Greek costume still known as the Amalia dress.
It follows the Biedermeier style, with a kaftan (καβαδι) top over which is worn a richly embroidered jacket. It was completed with a cap or fez, traditionally worn by married women, or with the kalpaki (a toque) of the unmarried woman, to which was added the black veil for going to church.
This dress became the usual attire of all Christian townswomen in both Ottoman Empire-occupied and liberated Balkan lands as far north as Belgrade.
In the early years of the new monarchy, Queen Amalia, with her beauty and vivaciousness brought a spirit of smart fashion and progress to the impoverished country. She laboured actively towards social improvement and the creation of gardens in Athens, and at first won the hearts of the Greeks with her refreshing beauty. The city of Amalias and the village of Amaliapolis were named for the Queen.
As King Otto and his Bavarian advisers became more enmeshed in political struggles with Greek political forces, the Queen became more politically involved, also. She became the target of harsh attacks when she became involved in politics - and her image suffered further as she proved unable to provide an heir. She also remained a Protestant, in an almost universally Orthodox country, throughout her husband's reign.
n February, 1861, a University student named Aristeidis Dosios unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate the Queen. He was sentenced to death, but the Queen intervened, and he was pardoned and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was hailed as a hero for his attempt by certain factions, but the attempt also provoked spontaneous feelings of sympathy towards the royal couple among the people. Just over a year later, while the royal couple were on a visit to the Peloponnese, an uprising in Athens took place. The Great Powers, who had supported Otto urged them not resist and Otto's reign was at an end. They left Greece aboard a British warship, with the Greek royal regalia that they had brought with them.
King Otto and Queen Amalia spent the rest of their years in exile, home in Bavaria. They decided to speak in Greek each day between 6 and 8 o'clock to remember their time in Greece.[citation needed]
Queen Amalia died in Bamberg in 1875 and was buried in Munich beside the King.